Sheriff's officials: Woman arrested for posing as nurse at San Jose hospital

8/12/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Authorities are telling San Francisco Bay Area hospitals to be on alert after a woman was arrested for pretending to be a nurse at a San Jose medical center.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office tells the San Jose Mercury News today that 29-year-old Crystal Cook of Felton was discovered in scrubs wearing a stethoscope and a fake registered nurse badge at Valley Medical Center.

Hospital security summoned sheriff’s deputies who arrested Cook Friday on suspicion of a pair of misdemeanors. She has since been released.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup says it does not appear Cook, who has no medical background, was able to get into any secure areas like emergency or delivery rooms and no sign she treated anyone.

Cook could not be reached for comment.